"I urge you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree in what you say, and that there be no divisions among you." (1 Corinthians 1:10)

We live in a divided world, a divided nation, and a divided Church. Cardinal against cardinal, bishop against bishop, priest against priest, and the laity are terribly confused.
Two types of division: 1) When individuals are opposed or teaching opposing doctrines. 2) When an individual or a group is opposed to Jesus or teaching a doctrine contrary to the Gospel of Jesus.

We know, not just in theory but in reality even here in our own Diocese, that there is awful division. And, further, that even many priests have created a false unity by joining together to reject the teaching of the Church and of Jesus himself. Consider how many priests spoke in favor of contraception, or refused to speak against it; and many other issues.

But, we cannot say "My parish is the only CATHOLIC parish in the (city/diocese/world) or my priest is the only CATHOLIC priest in the (city/diocese/world)." It is true that many priests teach falsehood and gravely mislead people, but that doesn't mean they are not Catholic, although they may be terribly wrong.

What should we do? 1) Know your faith! Learn your Catechism!
And 2) Do penance! Prayer: Rosary, scapular, first Saturdays; fasting: abstaining on Fridays, other mortification; Almsgiving: caring for the homeless, visiting the sick.

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Sermons from daily Masses, December 27 to January 21. Throughout much of this time, Father Ryan was away from the parish (on retreat and on diocesan meetings).
St John, the Holy Innocents, the Holy Family, the Holy Name, Epiphany, St Sebastian, St Agnes.

Sunday, January 8, 2017

The wise men saw the star and recognized the sign of the coming of the Lord, even though most men were unaware of the most significant moment in history. On Epiphany, the Church looks ahead to the coming year and proclaims the dates of all the movable feasts (Ash Wednesday, Easter, Ascension, Pentecost, etc). We look forward to consider what God has in store for us this year - and we recognize that 2017 is no ordinary year.

Consider:
1) 2017 is the 100th Anniversary of Fatima.
2) Before writing the St Michael Prayer exactly 33 years to the day (October 13, 1884) prior to the "miracle of the sun" in Fatima, Pope Leo XIII heard our Lord say that Satan would be given 100 years to persecute the Church and wreak havoc on the world. And the Vatican has said that the past 100 years of violence and persecution fulfill the suffering predicted at Fatima.
3) 2017 is the 500th Anniversary of the Protestant Revolt - an horrific event which is being celebrated even by many Catholic bishops.
4) We have completed the Year of Mercy. Jesus revealed to St Faustina that, after the day of mercy would come the day of judgment.
5) There is unprecedented division in the Church. Priest against priest. Bishop against bishop. And cardinal against cardinal.
6) Unprecedented liturgical abuse. Would the saints even recognize the Mass as it is celebrated in most churches throughout the world today?
7) Sr Lucia (one of the Fatima Visionaries) wrote to then Monsignor (now Cardinal) Caffarra that the last great battle would be on issues related to marriage and the family. Cardinal Caffarra was a trusted adviser to St John Paul the Great, and to Pope Benedict XVI. But, under the current pontificate, Caffarra is persecuted and rejected -- and the Catholic approach to divorce and remarriage as well as a whole host of other issues related to marriage and the family is being thrown by the wayside for radical liberalism.

What do we do?
1) Practice regular confession
2) Pray the Rosary every day
3) Wear the brown scapular
4) Practice the First Saturday Devotions

2017 will be no ordinary year. This is a moment of grace, if only we would be open to receiving it.

God became man so that man might become like God. This is the mystery of Christmas, the mystery of grace. And in no creature after our Lord's sacred humanity do we see the divinity more clearly reflected than in the Virgin Mary.

Mary, as a virgin mother, is the most divine of all creatures. Her giving birth to Jesus without any pain or suffering or rupture or violence is a manifestation of the manner in which God the Father begot the Son from all eternity. Only two persons may be said to have begotten God -- The Father, and Mary.

Jesus is God from God, Light from Light, True God from True God; and on Christmas, he is God from Mary, truly proceeding from her as light through glass in a miraculous birth.